FRIDAY NIGHT AT JC FANDANGOS

I will say this first:  two things made my evening last night at JC Fandangos - my friend Claudia, and Son Mayor.  Claudia because there is a magic in getting together with friends who, no matter how much time goes by between visits, seem able to pick up where we left off.  Son Mayor because they sounded good last night, and their camera friendly faces made me happy.

Now, having said that...

I hadn't been back to JC Fandangos (JCF) in two years.  They've made some structural changes since - the stage is fancier in blue and purple, and the DJ booth was moved to the left side of the stage.  Both nice improvements.

The people on the other hand, are the same.  In fact, at JCF time seems to have gone by at a slower pace. 

At JCF you still see guys wearing the wide-leg trousers and the collar long sleeve dress shirts that were the "good dancer" uniform in every L.A. club a few years back. 

You still see the "in-crowd" dancers welcome one another with the bear hugs, the pats on the back, and the kisses on the cheek, public shows of their communion and special relationships, even though I'd like to know if they even remember each other's first names.

The hot-ugly-guy is still there - that guy who gets to walk around with his long hair in a pony tail and a larger than life attitude, because he, against all odds, actually gets the pretty girls... And all it took him was a year of free Salsa dancing lessons!

The I-can't-dance-but-I'm-still-picky Asian guy is still there - the one you will have to say no to as well, IF you make his 'cut' that is, because since you've seen every girl turn him down, you KNOW he can't dance for shit. 

And then you see the miscellaneous bits and pieces remaining from a bygone era:  the guy wearing the shades as if the sun is high in the sky, and the "good-dancer-corner" which you better move away from 'cuz let's face it, you're just wasting your time if you don't belong.

Yeap... time has stood still at JFC.  Not that is necessarily a terribly bad thing...

The floor was not as packed as I remember it though.  It would be a good place to dance if you bring your partner along.  Son Mayor was great.  Mario the DJ plays tons of descargas and merengues between band's sets, for those of you that like to shake it fast.

The "aguas-locas" which will make you 'loca' real fast, are still good, although I'd like them better in the tall glass.

The groups of men standing around, four and five in a bunch, I will never understand.  I asked one of them to dance and he said he didn't know how.  I thought he just didn't want to dance with me, but in reality, he DID stand all night. "I just came to watch the women", he said.  Ehm...  ok.

For what is worth... I did get a few dances in, which is more than what I have danced in a few months now.  They got my heart rate going, and you know how the endorphins work... at the end of the night, all was good.

I will go back to JCF soon, with my man though!, and a few VidaSalsera cards which I, last night, forgot. 

It's still $15 at the door by the way, but I hear the DJ has a guest list.

Check out Son Mayor at http://www.sonmayor.com .  Beautiful Juliana.  Very nice piano player Jeff Goodkind.  As a group a pleasure.

Now, here's some pictures!